Factory adjustable sights on Browning HP Practical?

R

Rex Feral

New member
I'm going to buy a BHP Practical and want adjustable sights. Are the factory adjustables durable enough for everyday knock around carry? Should I get aftermarket sights? I know the pros/cons of adjustable vs. fixed, but I'm definitely going with adjustables of some sort on this one, so I'd like to hear BHP users opinions.

Thanks in advance.



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Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war.
 
If you want adj sights on a carry auto go with the MMC. I think anything else looks too big, even the MMC looks more at home on a 1911.
 
Hello, Rex Feral. If the adjustables on the HP you saw are the same as the "old" Browning adjustables, they will not hold zero in my experience. If they are the same, you loosen the screw on the side of the sight toward which you happen to want the sight to move and tighten the opposite one. You had to resort to Loctite for heavy use or the screws would work loose. This sight may've been replaced, but I've not bought adjustable sighted HPs in years. The MMC mentioned by another poster is a good one, but I still prefer a low-mounted BoMar. I tried the excellent Wichita adjustable which looks like a big BoMar on steroids, but it's just too big for the HP. I've also had good results with S&W K-frame adjustable sights that were mounted on the slide as they are on the revolvers, but the 'smith needs to use a larger screw to secure it so that it doesn't sheer off from the slide's movement and sudden stops both foreward and rearward. Best.
 
I shoot a BHP MkIII with the fixed sights and like it alot, but then again, I've never been partial to adjustables. One of the guys in my office has a BHP Practial chambered for .40 S&W with the factory adjustables. He thinks it's the best thing since peanut butter and pockets on shirts! He set the sights up to shoot 1 inch low at 20 yards (his personal preference) about a year ago and hasn't had to adjust them in almost 5k rounds. This is also his carry gun, so I know it gets bumped around from time to time. Based on his experience, I wouldn't change the factory sights unless you're just more comfortable with another style.

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Tom Whitman
SSgt, USAF
 
My BHP "Practical Model" in 9m/m wears fixed
sight's; and I can shoot it just fine. What's
the need for adjustable's? :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I like an exact zero on my carry pistols with my favorite loads, I dont want to have to stop to think "Well now let's see, I'm carrying my USP so at 10 yards my bullets will hit 2" high and 1" to the left." when it is time to shoot.

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Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war.
 
I have a newer Browning Hi Power in 40 S&W with the adjustable sights. They look pretty bad on the pistol (always like they were just stuck their as an afterthought by some Browning worker) but they do seem to be durable enough. Still I'm thinking of sending the pistol to a custom shop and have it worked over and one of the modifications will be a good set of fixed sights. I have adjustable sights on my target guns, but I don't see the use of adjustable sights on a carry gun. They aren't as durable, their more prone to snagging and they just aren't needed for what the gun was intended for. Let's face it, with a gun your going to stake your life on you don't want to be continually changing brands of ammunition. Find a brand that is accurate in your gun and that you can afford (and afford to practice with) and stick with it. For just one brand you can afford to go through the inconvenience of drifting a fixed sight right, or left and filling a bit off the front if necessary to regulate the gun. Once this is accomplished you can remain fairly confident that your sights aren't likely to shift.
 
Haven't looked at the Mark III adjustable sights, but if they're the same as the tin-like construction of the the old Belgian Browning adjustables, they're surely worth replacing. The don't hold a zero well as Mr. Camp pointed out and they simply scare me because they look fragile tho, I've never given them a chance to shoot loose.

Check the number of used adjustable sight Brownings with missing screws though--they must shoot loose more than any other piece extant (or have the clumsiest screw-losing owners).

For a carrying pistol, the 9mm's are among the few pieces where I prefer adjustable sights since when bouncing about at any given time ammo availability may vary so in bullet wt, velocity, and POI. Because of that, personally, I've opted for the adjustable sight Belgian models since I like the high foresight which comes with them and it minimizes aftermarket modifications that require gunsmith services.

An inexpensive, readily available adjustable sight is the MILLETT which has served me well in the several Hi-Pwrs I've owned and on those of several friends and acquaintances.

The MILLETT is a high riding sight though and not as clean looking as having a low mounted BO-MAR put on and as Mr. Camp points out, nothing is lower riding than having a S&W K-38 sight inlet into the slide. The latter should have a first rate gunsmith install it though. As further support for Mr. Camp's cmts on needing a heavier screw to secure the S&W sight, on my Swenson-Colt 45's, old Armand pinned the sights as well as fitting heavier duty screws to secure tge sights since 45 ball and heavier loads did tend to shoot them loose (and did so on my first piece).
 
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